| Neurodegenerative Diseases | |
| Diseases | Characteristics |
|
Dementia Dr. Philippe Pinel, 1797 |
The two lobes become damaged and then shrink. The genetic mutations are thought to have a negative effect on a protein called the tau protein. All brain cells contain tau proteins that help to keep them stable but abnormal tau proteins may lead to dementia. |
|
Parkinson's disease (PD) Dr. James Parkinson, 1817 |
Normally brain neurons produce chemical messenger known as dopamine. When the neurons die or become impaired, they produce less dopamine and Lewy bodies formed unusual clumps of the protein α-synuclein in substantia nigra which causes the PD. |
|
Spino-cerebellar Ataxia (SCA) Dr. Nikolaus Friedreich, 1863 |
Mutation in several forms of SCA1 protein in brainstem cerebellum and spinal cord lead to Spino-cerebellar Ataxia. |
|
Huntington's disease (HD) Dr. George Huntington, 1872 |
Mutation in HTT gene instruct to make a protein i.e. huntingtin. DNA segment “CAG” segment is repeated normal 36 to more than 120 times which cause HD. |
|
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) Dr. Jean-Martin Charcot, 1874 |
Mutations in gene encoding superoxide dismutase 1 (SOD1) in nerve cells that cause ALS. |
|
Alzheimer's disease (AD) Dr. Alois Alzheimer, 1906 |
Abnormal clumps i.e. amyloid plaques and tangled bundles of fibers i.e. neurofibrillary tangles or tau. |